ROSS McNAB

Real Name: Ross McNab

Identity/Class: Normal human

Occupation: Inn keeper; agent of the alien beneath the Loch

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: The alien beneath the Loch, the robotic Loch Ness Monster 

Enemies: Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Courtney Ross, Jacko Tanner

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: An inn by the side of Loch Ness, Scotland

First Appearance: Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#233 (July 27th, 1977)

Powers/Abilities: McNab was fairly strong for a man of his age (since he managed to carry Brian Braddock's seemingly unconscious body without assistance from anyone else), and presumably a reasonably good swimmer (but not good enough - see History). He was also able to make or get hold of a powerful sedative which could be mixed with hot milk. Although the alien communicated with him telepathically, McNab himself had no powers in this area.

History: (Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#233/2 - BTS) - Loch Ness innkeeper Mr.McNab made contact with an alien whose vessel had lain beneath the murky waters of the Loch for many centuries. The alien offered him riches and power if he would act as its agent on the surface. Lured by his greed, McNab accepted the offer. The alien's psychic powers foresaw that Captain Britain would soon arrive to interfere with its plans.

(Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#233/2) - McNab watched as the robotic Loch Ness Monster practiced for a possible confrontation with the superhero Captain Britain, by snatching a robotic version of hero out the air and destroying it. The next day the innkeeper met a group of students who had arrived from Thames University in London to search for the legendary monster. McNab carried their bags to their rooms as the students followed on behind, arguing over what they would find. After the students had settled into their lodgings, McNab was contacted by his alien master and ordered to kill one of the students, Brian Braddock. He took the student a drugged glass of milk, to render Braddock unconscious.

(Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#233/2 - BTS) - Once his victim appeared to have lost consciousness, he took the boy and dumped his body in a nearby marsh, leaving him to drown. McNab also sabotaged the cable which was to lower the students' bathysphere into the Loch the next day, unknowingly leaving behind a button which tore from his coat at the scene of his crime.

(Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#233/2) - The next morning the remaining students, unaware of the night's activities, went for a preliminary dive in their bathysphere, watched by the villainous innkeeper. The alien made telepathic contact with McNab again, checking that he had done as requested, and informing him that the bathysphere would be eliminated. However Captain Britain showed up to rescue the ailing submersible, much to the consternation of McNab, who could not fathom how his victim had survived.

(Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#234/2) - Jacko Tanner and Courtney Ross, two of the students who had been in the bathysphere, figured out that McNab had been behind the sabotage, and Tanner angrily confronted the elderly man.

(Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#234/2 (BTS)) - The cowardly McNab swiftly confessed all, including the existence of the alien.

(Super Spider-Man and Captain Britain Weekly#234/2) - Tanner refused to believe this tale of aliens beneath the waters, but McNab broke free of him and leapt into the Loch, planning to swim to freedom. However an underwater explosion, caused by Captain Britain blowing up the alien vessel on the bottom of the Loch, caused a massive wave, and unable to stay afloat, the avaricious innkeeper drowned.

Comments: Created by Larry Lieber, Jim Lawrence, Ron Wilson and Fred Kida.

McNab's first name was revealed in Marvel Atlas#1.

Profile by Loki

CLARIFICATIONS: Not to be confused with

• Black Jaimie MacAwber, a Scotsman involved with the Loch Fear Monster @ Incredible Hulk II#192
• Groundskeeper Wullie from the Simpsons cartoon show, whose accent is equally authentic
• any other Mac's or Mc's